Chapter 3

We walked through. A part way in the middle of the room. Party guests lined alongside it. All eyes were on me, warm smiles and feisty stares from the men on full display as I walked. Loki sat down at the wooden dining table at the end of the room. Its thick legs carved with engravings. I sat down next to him. The guests took their seats at the tables lined parallel, ours in front of theirs, horizontally, and raised on a platform. A woman with long black hair, and a man with a long red beard and bulbous belly, sat down next to me at the table. The man with the red beard smiled. On Loki's side, a man of asian heritage and another, rather handsome with blonde locks sat down at the table also. Loki stood again once all the guests had sat down and raised his glass.

"Lady Anne, we welcome you to Asgard." The crowd cheered in union before drinking from their glasses in honour of me. I forced out a smile as Loki sat down once again. Loud, boisterous laughter and talk began to fill the room from the party guests. People began to eat, piling their plates with the food that lay across each long table.

"My name is Volstagg, my lady! And this is lady Sif!" The man with the red beard spoke, his voice loud and friendly. I smiled at them. "On the other side is Hogun and Fandral." He gestured to the men sitting on Loki's side. "We are very pleased to have you here in Asgard!" Volstagg went back to piling more food onto the mountain that had already formed on the plate in front of him. Loki's slender fingers touched the top of my hand that sat on the table. I turned to him.

"I understand your anger and reluctance. But if you had of let me, I would have explained all of this when you arrived." He spoke softly, his voice sincere. He leaned his head in as he spoke, whispering into my ear so I could hear him over the noise of the dining hall.

"Well I will let you explain it to me after this." I gestured to the scene in front of me. He smiled.

"Then you are willing?" He asked. I looked at him confused. "You are willing for me to announce you as my betrothed at the end of this evening?"

"I didn't realize I had a choice in the matter." I contested.

"All you must know is that it is prophesied. The rest I will explain to you in good time."

"Well then you should know, I'm not one to believe in a prophecy. Not to mention, being betrothed doesn't mean we will definitely marry." He looked at me surprised, before smiling again.

"I understand. You live on the hope that you do not have to wed me." I nodded. He smirked, withholding something. But he looked away, turning his gaze back to the crowd of guests dining in front of him.

As the party drew to a close, Loki stood up. I knew what was to happen now. I repressed the temptation to stand up and protest as Loki uttered the announcement. The crowd clapped in excitement, drinking once again to the news. I smiled reluctantly. And as the guests slowly began to pile out of the dining hall, I felt the weight on my chest beginning to lessen. As Fandral and Volstagg staggered out of the hall in a drunken mess, it was just Loki and I left. I stood in the centre of the room, suddenly nervous. He turned to face me.

"Do you wish to know more now?" He asked carefully. I nodded. He took my hand, tucking it under and over his arm. He walked me down the hallways until we came to a narrow hallway extending to one set of doors at the end. As we entered the room, the walls were filled with old books and scrolls. The room itself was a small hexagonal shape, a round table placed in the centre. The ceiling extended up many floors until there was a glass covered skylight at the very top. The stars in the night sky glowing above. Loki went to one of the shelves, pulling out a scroll. It was not as old as some of the others, it's white paper still showing its young age. He laid it out, stretching the paper on the table. I stopped next to him, looking at the eloquent writing on the paper.

"And so, as the old king dies, a new one takes reign. And from the very world he threatened, a wanderer comes, who shall be his equal in heart, body and mind. They shall reign as one, threaded together through the ties of matrimony, a love that consumes and inspires." Loki read the words aloud. Once he had finished, it took me a moment to come to terms with what he had said, before I shook my head.

"Like I said, not a believer." I spoke matter-of-factly. Loki straightened up, looking at me with teasing eyes.

"Prophecies on Asgard have the habit of coming true." He explained. I frowned, stepping away and walking around the room, before turning to face him.

"Yes, but I'm sure none of your previous prophecies have included a member of the very race you tried to destroy. Prophecies might come true for Asgardian's, but not for Midgardian's." I shrugged. Loki only smiled.

"Like I said, prophecies on Asgard have the habit of coming true. Despite what part of the universe you may come hail from."

"You know I could just walk out this room right now, make a run for it, back to Earth." I threatened lightly. I wasn't quite sure why, but I was enjoying our bantering. His smile only widened.

"Well that might take you a while." I looked at him confused for a moment.

"I can find the magic pathway, wormhole thingy that I went through to get here." I explained. "I remember where it is." He laughed.

"Wormholes do not work that way. It is a one way trip. There is a way back to Midgard, yes. But you shall never find it." He began walking around the table, towards me.

"You can't make someone like you, let alone love you by holding them hostage." I argued playfully.

"On the contrary, as I have said before, you are a guest here."

"Then why won't my bedroom doors open when I try to leave?" I challenged, making him chuckle.

"That is because I have bound them. You may only leave your room if you do not have the desire to leave Asgard." I contemplated this for a moment.

"I have no reasons to stay here." I protested lightly.

"Your lies do not work on me." He sniggered. I frowned at him and began walking to the door when he grabbed me by the waist carefully. He pulled me into him, my face only centimeters away from his. I felt his hot breath hit the skin on my face as he laughed. "I'm already starting to grow on you." I frowned at him again. But it was true. He was surprisingly kind to me. Even if he was a murderer...

"Are you going to let me go?" I looked down at the embrace he had me in. He looked down to what I was gesturing to and smiled, shrugging quickly.

"Why?" He said playfully. He moved his other hand to run up my back. The fabric of my dress was soft and fairly thin. I could feel the fingertips of his slender hands press down in certain places. I took a deep breath. Could he like, stop that? It's distracting. "You are to be my wife. I may hold you in any way I want." I pressed my palms against his chest, attempting to push him away. His embrace only tightened, pulling me closer, our noses brushing against each other.

"Just because were supposed to marry one another doesn't mean you get to touch me when you want." I explained truthfully. He chuckled.

"I am Loki. I do what I want." I used all my force to push him away, finally loosening his grip. I stepped backwards.

"You don't touch me unless I allow you to." I said with force, pointing my finger at him. He raised his palms, stepping back, a playful look painted on his pale face.

"Whatever you say, my queen." He joked, although aware of the truth that radiated in my words.

"I'm not your queen. Or anyone else's for that matter."

"Not yet."

"I may have let you announce that little betrothal thing, but that doesn't mean I will follow through." I threatened softly. He laughed.

"You won't have a say in the matter."

"What, and you do?" I contested. He shook his head.

"I am as powerless as you. Prophecies cannot be out run, lovely." I know I should have cringed at the affectionate word, but I actually kind of liked it. For a murderer, he was kind of completely charming.

"I'm going back to my room." I said stupidly, closing the door behind me.